If you have a WordPress blog, there are some plugins that you must have. And if you use WordPress as your website platform, congratulations, your site maintenance is that much easier, and you've got all the cool plugin for your entire site.

1. Wordpress Automatic Upgrade

Like any other programs, WordPress frequently upgrades. You don't want to do the whole re-installation all over again? With this plugin, upgrade is completed in just a few clicks.

2. Akismet

Protects your blog comments from spam. I had no idea how many spammers spam this way. I have a blog that has been live for about 3 1/2 years, and even through it is no top 100 site, Akismet caught 12,683 spams in the last 6 months. Once you install, it does its work by itself.

3. All in One SEO

The best SEO package for WordPress. You can leave the default setting if you are new to SEO, or fine tune it to your specifications. The most powerful feature is that you can create a unique page title for each post, rather than leaving it as the title of your post.

4. Google XML Sitemaps

Generates XML sitemaps you can submit to search engines. Again, you can leave the default setting if you are new to sitemaps, or set your own update frequencies and priority for your pages, posts, and categories.

5. Clicky for Wordpress

Clicky Web Analytics is my favorite stats counter. If you use it, you can have your Clicky data right in your WordPress admin control. It can also auto-tweet your new blog on your Twitter account with a shortened url, which you can monitor on your Clicky.

6. Wordpress Stats

If you don't have Clicky, this is your next best option. I use both because this plugin displays the quick stats with a graph on the WordPress dashboard.

7. Onlywire for WordPress

Would you like your blog entries all over the internet? Onlywire plugin lets you submit your posts to 33 top social network and bookmark sites with a single click.

Here are some other cool plugins depending on what your needs are.

WPtouch iPhone Theme

Easily formats your site with a fast loading mobile theme for iPhones and PDAs.

PollDaddy Polls

Inserts a poll in your blog with a number of cool, customizable styles.

Fuzzy SEO Booster

Adds the search terms on your page used by those who found your site, which then works as tags, helping your search engine positions.

Author's Bio: 

Read more about Marketing Strategy & Tools, and receive Free Marketing Training. Ellie Yamane is a Marketing Coach and a Life Coach.